OTSTEB CXTLTUEE COMMISSION—MINUTES OF ETIDENCE. 
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1G52. Yon have heard several witnesses examined before this Commission object to a gauge on the ground W. J. 
that oysters may liave a small shell but a large fish, and we have been told that some oysters do not grow 
to a large size ? Yie could have gauges of different sizes. I do not say that every oyster in a bag should 
be gauged; tliat is a matter which should be left to the Inspector. ^ 
1G53. What do you think of this plan,—that the oysters should be submitted to Magistrates, and if they 
found them to be mere skin and water they should condemn them in the same way tliat unwholesome fisK 
or meat are condemned ? Yes, but that would be diflicult; tlic oysters might be sound, though skinny and 
watery. I don’t think the Magistrates would be able to tell what tliey were. 
165d. You have misunderstood my question. I say supposing they were nothing but skin and water— 
suppose a working man buys oysters for his dinner, and there is nothing in tlicm to satisfy his appetite ; 
I ask you whether such oysters should not bo condemned Avuthout being passed through a ring? l^es, I 
think the Inspector should condemn them. 
1G55. Has tho Inspector at prpent power to condemn fish which he considers unfit for food ? Well, he 
might take them before a Magistrate. 
1656. And ho should condemn them as being nothing more tlian brood or ware ? Yes, it might be done 
in that Avay. 
1657. Don’t you think that if good oysters only were allowed to be sold the consumption of oysters in 
the Colony would be greatly increased ? Yes. 
1658. And that tho sale of these oysters—which are in reality, according to the English nomenclature, no 
oysters—injures the oyster trade? Y’es, it does. My idea would be tliat tho Inspector should sec them 
on the wharf and lake them before a Bencli of Magistrates, or some other authority, to know what was to 
be done with them. 
1659. And if the Magistrates found them to be unsuitable for food, they could order them to be placed in 
some river or suitable place wliere they would grow to their proper size ? Yes. 
1660. You think that would have a beneficial effect upon the.oyster trade? Yes. 
1661. And that it would encourage persons to buy them for food, which they do not at present, because 
there is no food in those thev purcliase ? Yes. 
1GG2. Now, witli regard to tlic price of 03 '«terH. Do you not tliiiik tliat tlic present monopoly of the bods 
increases the price immensely to the consumer ? Yes, there is no doubt about that; the leaseholders can 
rule the market if they like at the jiresent time. 
1603. At what pi*icc do you think oysters could be sold per dozen so as to leave a fair margin of profit ? 
It is seldom I luive bad anything to do witli them by tho dozen ; it has gonorallv been bv the bag on the ' 
rivers. 
lObl. Have you any idea of thcuuinber of oysters in a bag ? Tliat depends upon the river tlicy come from. 
1665. Take full-grown oysters of tlie largest size—how many are there in a bushel ? I should tliiiik 
about tiveuty dozen of good-sized oysters. 
1666. You are very much mistaken. In England it is estimated that tliere are 1,500 ? Well, they cannot 
be the same kind of oysters, or tliey must lie much closer than those we liave here. 
1667. In Euglaiid it is estimated that 5,000 brood, 2,000 ware, or 1,500 oysters go to a liushel. At 
what price do you Ibink oysters could be supplied, so as to be food for the working classes as well as 
a luxury to the rich ? At about 4s. a bushel, 1 should thiuk. 
1668. And how many would you calculate to the bushel ? About twenty-five to thirty dozen; it would 
all depend upon where they come from ; in some cases there would be more ; I am speaking of large-sized 
oysters. 
1669. That is scarcely 2d. a dozen. Do you think they could be sold to working men at a profit, at 4d. 
a dozen ? I think about 6d. a dozen. 
1670. Large-sized oysters full of meat? Yes. 
1671. Aiui with about a couple of dozen of such oysters a man could make a hearty meal ? That would 
depend upon who it was. 
1672. I am speaking of an average meal according to the general scale of rations for a working man ? I 
have seen some gentlemen eat five or six dozen ; but I should think two dozen would be a very fair meal. 
1673. Then a person could make a very fair meal Tor about a shilling ? Yes. 
1674. But what would a meal ol: that sort cost at present? About two shillings at pre.sent, and if tliey 
had not got large oysters they would fill up the plate with small ones. 
1675. Such oysters as they sell at the present time, would there be twenty-five or thirty dozen to the 
bushel? No, a great many more ; I am not speaking of oysters like those. 
1676. But how many of such oysters as aii oysterman would supply would it take to fill a busliel; such 
oysters as they sell ni the shops at Is. a dozen? At a rough estimate, I should say about 600 or 700. 
1677. IMy object is to see how much more consumption there would be if tho oysters were sold at a 
reasonable price. Arc you acquainted with tho mode of oyster culture adopted in any other part of tlio 
world ? No, only in this Colony. 
1678. Only from what you have hearth about it? Yes ; I have read a good deal on the subject. 
1679. Can you conceive any country more suitable for the cultivation of oysters in respect to climate and 
natural advantagc.s than this is ? No, they should grow remarlcably well here. 
16S0. Do you think it would be possible to make oyster.s the cheapest food in the Colony—to produce fat, 
full-grown oysters in such ([uautitics that they should be as cheap food as beef and mutton? 1 dare say 
it miglit in one point of view, but that is a question on which I hardly like to offer an opinion. Of course 
they would not go so far as beef and mutton. 
1681. But with regard to tho quantity of spat, there could be nothing better than the ])rovision inaile by 
nature to cover the rocks so profusely? No. 
1682. There can be no doubt about the supply of young oysters ? No. 
1683. And if taken care oF they would become large and fat oysters? Yes. 
1684. Aiul what labour or expense would that involve ? The chief trouble would be in laying tlioin down. 
1685. But there is little or no trouble in getting them after they have been laid down ? No, not tho 
slightest. 
1686. Are you aware of the trouble and expense they go to in England to get tlie oysters when they are 
laid down ? Yes. 
1687. Are you aware that in Whitstable they pay 12s. to 14s. for merely dredging them ? Yes, I 
believe so. 1688. 
